Latest news with #Morobe
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Here is how SMEs can take advantage of the G20 and B20 summits
Entrepreneurs can use these summits to elevate their businesses beyond local constraints. South Africa will be flooded with heads of state and government from the world's largest economies in November for the G20 and B20 summits. This presents an opportunity for the country's tourism sector to directly benefit from these gatherings, and most importantly, it is time for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to take advantage of this growth opportunity. The G20 summit is an annual meeting of heads of state and government from the world's largest economies, along with the European Union and the African Union, to discuss and coordinate on pressing global issues. The B20 serves as a platform for dialogue among policymakers, civil society, and businesses at the international level. ALSO READ: Mid-year financial check for SMEs: Tips to prepare for the next six months How SMEs can benefit David Morobe, executive general manager for Impact Investing at Business Partners Limited, says entrepreneurs can use these summits to elevate their businesses beyond local constraints. 'The summits offer the country's entrepreneurs a once-in-a-generation opportunity to engage with influential decision-makers, forge cross-border partnerships, and position their businesses for international growth.' He is of the view that SMEs in the country already embody the B20 theme of 'Inclusive Growth and Prosperity through Global Cooperation'. Morobe highlighted that the B20 provides a platform for the country to showcase how homegrown enterprises are setting standards for inclusive and sustainable growth. What SMEs need Morobe says the pressure is still on, despite SME confidence growing in 2025, as entrepreneurs view the economy and government efforts as supportive of growth. Referring to the latest Business Partners SME Confidence Index, he notes that respondents cited cash flow, economic conditions, and limited funding as the top barriers. 'To overcome these, 86% of SMEs say access to finance is critical, 85% need targeted business resources, and 83% highlight the importance of mentorship.' ALSO READ: How mental health affects entrepreneurs New Act for SMEs Morobe notes that the introduction of the National Small Enterprise Amendment Act is a step in the right direction, but unfortunately, it is not enough. The Amendment aims to simplify access to both financial and non-financial support by reducing bureaucratic hurdles. He calls on the private sector to play a role in providing the capital, mentorship, networks, and exposure that entrepreneurs need to succeed. Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Entries for the 37th annual Entrepreneur of the Year Awards have opened and will close on 31 August 2025. The awards aim to identify and support South African individuals who run successful SMEs. 'The awards are open to owners of SMEs across three categories: Emerging Entrepreneur, Small Business Entrepreneur, and Medium Business Entrepreneur. 'Five finalists will be selected in each category, with the finalist who makes the most contribution to employment and skills development in the country being awarded the Job Creator award.' Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the end of October 2025 and share in R2 million worth of prizes, including cash awards, mentorship, technical assistance and business exposure opportunities. Entrepreneurs interested in participating can enter at NOW READ: From cutting hair on the stoep to franchising: Legends Barber named top entrepreneur for 2024
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- The Citizen
2 Evaton cops and civilian charged in constable's murder
Two police constables appeared in the Sebokeng Magistrate's Court on Tuesday in connection with the murder of Constable Gift Mokoena, who was fatally shot in May 2021. Vaalweekblad reports that Constables Piet Matsoso (38) and Siyabonga Kunene (31), both stationed at Evaton Police Station in Gauteng, and their friend Hofney Morobe (36), face multiple charges, including murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, robbery with aggravating circumstances, defeating the ends of justice, and handling a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. According to information provided by the National Prosecuting Authority, the incident occurred on the night of May 16, 2021, in the Golden Gardens area. Matsoso and Kunene were off duty and driving with Morobe when they pursued a vehicle suspected of involvement in a house robbery. The vehicle stopped at a BP petrol station, where the accused allegedly assaulted the four occupants. During the altercation, a cellphone and car keys were reportedly taken from one of the victims. The trio then allegedly drove the victims around before handing them over to members of the CPF. While the victims were in the custody of the CPF, Morobe and Mokoena, who had by then joined the group, allegedly continued the assault. In the course of events, Morobe allegedly fetched Matsoso's service firearm from a vehicle and shot Mokoena. The wounded officer was taken to Nkanyezi Private Hospital in Sebokeng, where he died. The accused surrendered to police on June 30. During their bail application, the state did not oppose release, citing their co-operation and the fact that witnesses are unknown to them. Bail was granted at R1 000 each. The matter was postponed to September 4 for a directive from the Director of Public Prosecutions. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
02-07-2025
- The Citizen
Police constables in court for murder of colleague in Sebokeng
Police constables in court for murder of colleague in Sebokeng SEBOKENG – Two police constables appeared in the Sebokeng Magistrate's Court on Tuesday in connection with the murder of fellow officer Constable Gift Mokoena, who was fatally shot in May 2021. Constables Piet Matsoso (38) and Siyabonga Kunene (31), both stationed at Evaton Police Station, and their friend Hofney Morobe (36), face multiple charges, including murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, robbery with aggravating circumstances, defeating the ends of justice, and handling a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. According to information provided by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the incident occurred on the night of 16 May 2021 in the Golden Gardens area. Matsoso and Kunene were off duty and driving with Morobe when they pursued a vehicle suspected of involvement in a house robbery. The vehicle stopped at a BP petrol station, where the accused allegedly assaulted the four occupants. During the altercation, a cellphone and car keys were reportedly taken from one of the victims. The trio then allegedly drove the victims around before handing them over to members of the Community Policing Forum (CPF). While the victims were in the custody of the CPF, Morobe and Mokoena, who had by then joined the group, allegedly continued the assault. In the course of events, Morobe allegedly fetched Matsoso's service firearm from a vehicle and shot Mokoena. The wounded officer was taken to Nkanyezi Private Hospital in Sebokeng, where he died. The accused surrendered to police on 30 June 2025. During their bail application, the state did not oppose release, citing their cooperation and the fact that witnesses are unknown to them. Bail was granted at R1,000 each. The matter was postponed to 4 September 2025 for a directive from the Director of Public Prosecutions. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Business Partners launches Entrepreneur of the Year Award to support small businesses
Sheldon Tatchell, founder of the Legends Barber franchise, won the coveted Overall 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year award in the 36th annual Business Partners Limited Entrepreneur of the Year® awards in November last year. Image: Supplied Business Partners launched its Entrepreneur of the Year Award on Tuesday, an award that ranks among the most long-standing and prestigious of its kind in this country and which aims to foster growth in small and medium businesses by successful entrepreneurs. David Morobe, executive general manager of Impact Investing at SME financing company Business Partners said at an online event that the award, which was started in 1989 and stopped only during the Covid pandemic, aimed to honour entrepreneurs 'who don't give up on challenges.' There are award categories for different sizes of smaller businesses and for different types of entrepreneurs: Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year, SME Entrepreneur of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year for medium-sized businesses, Job Creator of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Impact Entrepreneur of the Year, and Overall Entrepreneur of the Year. In the 2023, the competition attracted over 350 entries, and last year there were more than 650 entries. Morobe said there was a high quality of entrepreneurs in the last competition, and the greater stability and confidence in the small business sector, as indicated by the SME Index for the last quarter of 2024, might spur even more entries in the 2025 year. He said business confidence in the SME sector had noticeably improved last year after the formation of the Government of National Unity, and he hoped the GNU would continue, as the business confidence it had generated was vital to the growth of the SME sector, which in turn formed a major part of the growth of the overall economy and job creation. For example, the SME Index had shown that some 80% of SME business owners polled expected their businesses to grow in 2025, 64% were confident about obtaining access to finance to sustain their businesses, while 72% expressed confidence in their ability to attract talented staff. SMEs had played a pivotal role in the post-recovery of the economy after the Covid pandemic, he said. Business Partners area manager Lawrance Ramotala said this month that the contribution of small businesses to youth development is not only practical but deeply transformational. 'In many cases, SMEs are the first to take a chance on young people, whether by hiring them as first-time employees, helping them launch their first business, or partnering with them as we're seeing is a groundswell of youth entrepreneurship that's rooted in community enterprise,' he said. 'This is particularly evident in township settings, where formal employment is often out of reach. In these areas, youth-led micro and small businesses are not only becoming viable alternatives to traditional work but also creating employment for others in their communities,' he said. Morobe said the competition provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase their business excellence, services, and products to a wider community. The entrepreneurs get to interact with other businesspeople, organisations, and institutions they otherwise would not have been able to access, and it exposes entrepreneurs to opportunities for businesses to tap into improvements and innovations in their existing businesses. Visit:
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- RNZ News
PNG student left with skull fracture after dorm attack
Papua New Guinea police Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades Arrests have been made in relation to an attack on students at a school in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. The students were set upon by a group of men, armed with bush knives and guns, as they prepared to begin their evening study last week. The report from the hospital chief executive stated a total of nine students - eight female and one male - were brought to the Emergency Department at midnight of 5 June. Several wound injuries were reported and one female student had a depressed skull fracture. "All students were attended to and are in stable condition," the report, dated 6 June, said. Police investigations are ongoing. The school's principal told NBC local communities have expressed outrage over the attack. Classes have resumed following a temporary suspension, he said. The principal described the incident as a criminal act committed by outsiders. "We didn't go out and create problems for the community; they came and robbed our students of their learning."
